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Thursday, January 3, 2019

In December, Collier County began planning to implement the one percent sales surtax voters approved in November, both the County Commission and Naples City Council weighed in on the community’s challenge to NCH’s new admissions policy, and the Collier School District’s high school graduation rate rose to 92 percent, ranking it eighth in the state. For these and other top stories in December about our elected local officials and governing bodies, read on!

Following the news summaries are links to information about upcoming meetings of our elected boards and how you can register for a presentation titled What Does the Clerk Do for You? by Clerk of Courts Crystal Kinzel.

Golden Gate Estates could get a bus barn, or more shopping. Commissioners voted 4-1 to continue exploring a land swap with the Collier school system. Commissioner McDanial dissented, citing the possibility of selling the parcel to provide something better for residents. Naples Daily News, 12/13/18

Collier County will continue its multi-agency approach to economic development — for now. After hearing a report on current programs, how they operate and the return on investment, commissioners decided to stay the course, but indicated they could revisit funding for some programs during the next budget cycle. GNCC Advocacy Watch, 12/15/18

County adopts policy to constrain Orange Blossom Drive. The stretch of neighborhood road from west of Airport Road to Goodlette Frank Road will remain two lanes and will not be widened. Commissioner Andy Solis, District 2 Newsletter, 12/31/18

County will take steps to clear gateway to Vanderbilt Lagoon. Commissioners agreed to front funds to start dredging Water Turkey Bay Channel and form MSTU to fund repayment and future routine channel maintenance. Commissioner Andy Solis, District 2 Newsletter, 12/31/18

Housing

U.S. home affordability drops to more than 10-year low in Q4 2018. A family needs annual income of $97,021 (57 percent of median Collier wages) to afford a median-priced home in Collier County, making it among the least affordable places in the country to buy. ATTOM Data Solutions via Naples Daily News editorial, 12/23/18

Editorial: Kudos and kicks in addressing the burden of housing costs. As 2018 ends, there’s still a chronic need to deliver housing that’s affordable to the workforce, including teachers, first responders and professionals starting their careers, as well as seniors who can’t afford pricey assisted living. Naples Daily News, 12/28/18

Sales tax surcharge

Report suggests Collier sales tax could sunset ahead of schedule. Current estimates show the tax will bring in more than $81.5 million in its first nine months, up from initial estimates of $70 million a year. Naples Daily News, 12/11/18

David Lawrence Center lawsuit scheduled for initial court action in January. At issue is a 5-acre parcel of land for a proposed $26 million mental health complex to be paid for with some of the proceeds of the one percent sales surtax. Naples Daily News, 12/22/18

Collier County tax increase to go into effect in 2019. Collier County residents and visitors will see the impacts nearly everywhere, including retail stores and restaurants. Groceries, medicines, and gas are all exempt. NBC2 News, 12/26/18

Deputy County Manager Casalinguida briefs BCC on sales tax rollout. Sales tax revenues and expenditures will be tracked, monitored by a citizen oversight committee. and regularly reported on to the Commission. Commissioner Andy Solis, District 2 Newsletter, 12/31/18

The environment

Commentary: Let’s be honest about plan to protect eastern Collier County. We recognize the Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is not perfect, but it is the only viable plan that delivers protection for over 100,000 acres of well-connected panther habitat and wetlands in private ownership. By Mimi Wolok - Audubon of the Western Everglades, Meredith Budd - Florida Wildlife Federation, and Brad Cornell - Audubon Florida, via Naples Daily News, 12/2/18

Commentary: 2019 outlook on our water, land, wildlife and future. We and Collier voters have the opportunity to influence anti-fracking legislation at the state level and plans for the development of eastern Collier County at the local level. By Rob Moher, President and CEO, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, via Naples Daily News, 12/22/18

Editorial: Steps forward, backward in environmental protection. A review of positive actions taken in 2018 and concerns for 2019. Worth the read. Naples Daily News, 12/26/18

Other

BCC to send letter to NCH about hospital admissions. Commissioner Taylor said the admissions policy change is creating chaos in the community, and Chairman Solis said it didn’t sit well that NCH did not send a representative to the meeting. Naples Daily News, 12/11/18

Medical marijuana dispensaries rejected again in Collier. For the second time in the past two months, Commissioners voted down a proposal allowing medicinal marijuana dispensaries in the county. Approval would have required a supermajority vote, and Commissioners Donna Fiala and Penny Taylor voted against the measure. FOX4, 12/12/18

BCC creates new mental illness and addiction advisory committee. Its purpose is to help ensure all possible services, treatment, and public and private assistance are provided for county residents struggling with mental illness and/or substance abuse disorders. Press Release, Collier County government, 12/13/18

Editorial: On right road to better hurricane preparation. While there were notable accomplishments in 2018, progress is needed in the areas of gasoline availability, generators in nursing homes, and timeliness of federal reimbursement. Naples Daily News, 12/23/18

Search for gravesite spurs 6-year cleanup of county-owned cemetery in Immokalee. After years of efforts by VFW volunteers, the graves of 94 veterans were identified and marked. Naples Daily News, 12/25/18

First portion of Baker Park set to open in March. The project, which began with City Council’s approval of the land purchase in 2013, will ultimately cost more than $23 million and be the most expensive public project in Naples history. Naples Daily News, 12/3/18

Naples Council to send letter to NCH about hospital admissions. At urging of residents, they will ask NCH leaders to delay the admissions change to allow physicians and the community to weigh in. Naples Daily News, 12/5/18

Naples City Council rejects ordinance that would have created ethics commission. The vote was 4-3, with council members Michelle McLeod, Terry Hutchison, Linda Penniman and Gary Price dissenting. Naples Daily News, 12/5/18

Naples Council wants to prevent electric, dockless scooters from coming to town. It plans to solidify state law into local law and grandfather it in case state law changes, which might happen if the scooter companies decide to lobby the state Legislature. Naples Daily News, 12/5/18

Design Review Board approves $35 million upgrade and expansion of NHC emergency room. The second-floor addition exceeds the height limit in the current medical district and will go to City Council for a final decision. Naples Daily News, 12/7/18

Old Naples redevelopment project stalls, drawing complaints. The mixed-use residential and retail project next to the Cove Inn has been untouched since late October when the city's building department issued a stop-work order for improper demolition at the site. Naples Daily News, 12/21/18

Naples City Council approves removal of stormwater beach pipes. Portions of Gulf Shore Boulevard will have to be torn up, which could allow for other improvements. Naples Daily News, 12/17/18

Ex-Marco Island manager censured, barred from professional organization. The decision came after The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) committee on professional conduct engaged a fact-finding committee that was appointed by the Florida City and County Management Association. Marco Eagle, 12/20/18

Collier County Public Schools achieves record 91.9 percent graduation rate. The District ranks eighth of 67 districts in 2018, up from 33rd in 2011. News from CCPS, 12/20/18

After more allegations lodged against school, Mason Classical Academy mulling legal action. Five months after submitting a complaint to the Florida Department of Education, the former treasurer of MCA continues to allege nefarious conduct by the public charter school. Marco Eagle via Naples Daily News, 12/3/18

What Does the Clerk Do for You? The Clerk of Court & Comptroller has over 1000 designated duties. Join the Clerk along with her directors for Finance, Courts, Recording, MIS, and BMR/VAB departments to learn more about the Office. January 10, 2 - 4 PM (registration required)

Tuesday, January 1, 2019

News in the weeks since the November elections has been filled with stories related to the transition. While Collier’s legislative delegation is largely unchanged, the new Governor, Cabinet members, and House and Senate leaders have new priorities. The news highlighted in this post provides a good indication of what to expect in the Legislative Session ahead. Following the review of state news are links to December news by or about Collier’s representatives in Congress.

Public Education

More challenges for Florida’s science curricula? Two members of Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis’ transition team for education are linked to efforts to weaken the teaching of evolution and climate change. Education Week, 12/7/18

Florida taps Republican politician for top education post. The Board of Education unanimously chose former House Speaker Richard Corcorcan despite being urged to first conduct a national search. APNews via Naples Daily News, 12/18/18

DeSantis pledges more voucher funding. Among those in his inner circle, Florida Trend magazine names former House speaker Richard Corcoran and state Rep. Byron Donalds. Tampa Bay Times, 12/22/18

Financing and Delivery of Healthcare

Passidomo: Florida's mental health system needs total revamp. Collier's Sen. Kathleen Passidomo helped pass a law in 2016 to provide better mental and behavioral services across the state, but it was never funded. WPTV.com, 12/11/18

School massacre panel recommends arming teachers. The group convened to investigate the Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School shootings voted 13-1 to allow the arming of teachers who volunteer and undergo extensive background checks and training. APNews, 12/11/18

SFWMD board to pay $7.2 million for test wells to cut Lake O discharges.District officials say 30 to 60 “deep injection wells” could dramatically reduce the need for discharges to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers. Treasure Coast Newspapers, 12/13/18

SFWMD drops option to buy U.S. Sugar land. The deal negotiated by then-Gov. Crist called for the state to buy 187,000 acres to re-create the flow-way to the Everglades. But Gov. Scott dramatically cut the district's revenue from property taxes, citing the recession. Treasure Coast Newspapers via Naples Daily News, 12/13/18

Cabinet approves land deal. The state will purchase a conservation easement for $6.4 million on nearly 20,000 acres of timberland near the Suwannee River and Gulf of Mexico. Southeast AgNet Radio, 12/5/18

S&P raises credit rating on Florida’s $24 billion Treasury Investment Pool to AA- from A+. S&P cited the “quality of investment, comparison with other funds with similar composition, and sound management by CFO Patronis’ Division of Treasury” as reasons they raised the rate. Florida Daily, 12/12/18

Florida’s low reemployment tax rate earned it national recognition. Since 2012, Florida has reduced its reemployment (i.e. unemployment insurance) tax rate by more than 94 percent. Sunshine State News, 12/14/18

Florida’s tax revenues boom as budget runs $365 million ahead of projections. DeSantis and lawmakers are looking at the biggest state two-year increase since the pre-recession peak of 2006. Tampa Bay Times, 12/19/18

DeSantis names Seminole County elections supervisor to be Florida’s next secretary of state.Michael Ertel will replace Ken Detzner, who was appointed to the position in 2012 by Gov. Scott. Miami-Herald, 12/28/18

More than 20 DeSantis campaign donors advise him on important policy decisions. They may have “an outsized role” in charting a course for the administration, says Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida. Miami-Herald, 12/16/18

2019 E-Verify bills likely to revive bitter feud among Republicans. They could pit immigration reform proponents against the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the state’s agricultural industry. Florida Watchdog, 12/19/18

Florida's growing population to impact post-Census redistricting. The Legislature draws congressional and state legislative district lines, and is already gearing up for what could be a contentious battle. Florida Watchdog, 12/31/18

Who pays for Alligator Alley’s lonely fire station? Sen. Passidomo has filed SB 72 to ensure that tolls charged on the Alley cover the budget for emergency responders at the station. Florida Politics, 11/26/18

Florida Legislature - Collier Delegation Committee Assignments

Sen. Kathleen Passidomo (District 28) will serve as Senate Majority Leader, and as a member of the Appropriations Committee; Appropriations Subcommittee on Health and Human Services; Ethics and Elections Committee; Innovation, Industry and Technology Committee; and Rules Committee.

Rep. Bob Rommel (District 106) will chair the Civil Justice Subcommittee and will serve as Vice Chair of the Judiciary Committee and of the Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, and as a member of the Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee, Health Market Reform Subcommittee, and Joint Legislative Auditing Committee.

Court battle over felons' rights could end. The passage of Amendment 4 may make moot a suit over the constitutionality of the state’s Clemency Board process. News Service of Florida via WUSF Public Media, 12/21/18

Democratic legislators call for a change in how state Supreme Court judges are nominated. Proposed SB 138 and HB 93 would curb the governor's influence on the process. Tallahassee Democrat, 12/12/18

Medical-marijuana ruling put on hold by Florida appeals court. The case could open the door to more firms doing business in the fast-growing medical marijuana market. News Service of Florida via Sun Sentinel, 12/19/18

Florida Supreme Court to take up ‘Assignment of Benefits’ insurance fight. AOB has been one of the most controversial insurance issues in recent years and is expected to spur a fight during the 2019 legislative session. News Service of Florida via Palm Beach Post, 12/29/18

State appealing ‘liquor wall’ decision. The ruling could allow retailers to sell hard liquor in their main stores, instead of in separate stores as they do now. Florida Politics, 12/29/18

Florida Cabinet

Almost 70 years later, Florida prepares apology to families of the Groveland Four. The young black men were falsely accused of rape, tortured and killed or imprisoned. Incoming Clemency Board members DeSantis, Fried, Moody, and Patronis have each said they support or will consider a pardon. Tampa Bay Times, 4/19/17; Tampa Bay Times, 12/19/18; APNews, 12/19/18; Miami-Herald, 12/20/18

Moody to crack down on Chinese fentanyl. Fentanyl abuse was a central part of her campaign for Attorney General. She called the synthetic “much more dangerous and deadly” than heroin. Florida Politics, 12/3/18

Citizens Insurance board approves 8.2 percent hike in property insurance rates. The recommendation by the state’s “insurer of last resort” must be approved by the state Office of Insurance Regulation, which is administratively housed within CFO Patronis’ Dept. of Financial Services. Sun Sentinel, 12/12/18

Congress — Collier Delegation

Rubio sees opportunities to deal with migration from Central and South America.Miami-Herald, 12/14/18